Monday, October 24, 2016

It was the biggest news of the day. A chief minister was fired at, just when he was about to get out of the chopper.

Armed terrorists began firing at the helipad. Bombs were also set off the same day in the State.

Still, did you watch the news as lead on TV channels. Was it given due importance?

"Suspected militants opened gunfire as he was getting out of helicopter", said this report, quoting CID officials. There were four ministers and two MLAs too in the helicopter. Manipur CM's helicopter ambushed, reports Scroll.

"A jawan of the Manipur Rifles was injured in the firing which took place when the chief minister stepped out of the helicopter and was being greeted by government officials", it further said.

The audacity of the attackers could be gauged from the fact that security was already beefed up in Ukhrul as CM was to reach there to inaugurate the developmental projects.

The militants attacked the helipad where CM Okram Ibobi Singh's chopper was scheduled to land in Ukhrul in Manipur, reported International Business Times (IBT).

The newspaper reported that several policemen were hurt in firing between militants and security forces, and the CM escaped unhurt. India Reserve Battalion jawans were also injured in IED blasts elsewhere in the State, on the same day.In reports, words like 'unidentified gunmen' or 'militants' were used. Nowhere the word terror was found--neither on websites of major newspaper, nor on TV channels which carried these reports.

NSCN(IM) is a banned outfit, just like other outfits which can't operate under Indian law.

However, its cadre is mostly called 'gunman', 'rebel', 'shooter' or 'outlaw', but not 'terrorist'. This is the same with ULFA, Bodo and Maoists too. The attacks may be brazen but they never fall in 'Terrorism' criterion in Indian media.

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